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Keith Olbermann Gets Fired by Current TV, Goes Ballistic

Former Vice President Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, the heads of Current TV, have just fired their star anchorman, Keith Olbermann, who previously left MSNBC on bad terms. Gore and Hyatt released a statement saying that “the values of respect, openness, collegiality, and loyalty to our viewers . . . are no longer reflected in our relationship with Keith Olbermann and we have ended it.” According to Talking Points Memo, insiders say Olbermann missed almost half his working days in January and February and insisted on taking an unauthorized vacation day the day before Super Tuesday.

Here is a statement Olbermann just issued. I’d call it going ballistic, albeit in writing:

Editorially, Countdown had never been better. But for more than a year I have been imploring Al Gore and Joel Hyatt to resolve our issues internally, while I’ve been not publicizing my complaints, and keeping the show alive for the sake of its loyal viewers and even more loyal staff. Nevertheless, Mr. Gore and Mr. Hyatt, instead of abiding by their promises and obligations and investing in a quality news program, finally thought it was more economical to try to get out of my contract.It goes almost without saying that the claims against me implied in Current’s statement are untrue and will be proved so in the legal actions I will be filing against them presently. To understand Mr. Hyatt’s “values of respect, openness, collegiality and loyalty,” I encourage you to read of a previous occasion Mr. Hyatt found himself in court for having unjustly fired an employee. That employee’s name was Clarence B. Cain.

In due course, the truth of the ethics of Mr. Gore and Mr. Hyatt will come out. For now, it is important only to again acknowledge that joining them was a sincere and well-intentioned gesture on my part, but in retrospect a foolish one. That lack of judgment is mine and mine alone, and I apologize again for it.

To paraphrase: Whatever happened, the fault is every bit Gore’s and Hyatt’s and not one scintilla mine. I merely created my best show ever and selflessly said nothing while my bosses broke promises and ultimately let me go because they’re cheap bastards. The whole world knows (“it almost goes without saying”) that Gore and Hyatt are dishonest and I’m honest, and I’m suing their asses, and here’s some unrelated dirt on them, just for good measure. Poor me. My only mistake was to trust the rats. I humbly apologize.

You thought Greg Smith had burned his bridges in the way he left Goldman Sachs? Where will Keith Olbermann ever work again?

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Frankly I have always considered Olbermann an ass and liberal party hack. He is not factual, likable, or humorous. I don’t know how anyone would want him in their employ or television set. He has already made too much money for what he does or did and should retire from our media and chill out. I suggest yoga and tai chi. We just don’t want to hear or see the man.